*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 20, No. 37 September 14, 2001 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +Amateurs respond to terrorist attacks * +ARRL president expresses pride in ham radio * +Hams among the missing at World Trade Center * +Wildfires stretch ARES resources in California * +New ARISS antennas to launch in November * +Hurricane Watch Net activates for Erin * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio +North American Sprint (SSB) cancelled +Johnston Island K3J DXpedition on the air +Kodiak Star launch delayed as a result of terrorist attacks W9GFZ special event postponed It's business as usual for AMSAT-NA Symposium and Annual Meeting 2001 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference to proceed on schedule DXCC Annual List deadline modified Former HQ staff member recovering from surgery Hiram Percy Maxim Award presented at Missouri convention Wisconsin PRB-1 drive appears to be overcoming sponsor's resignation Lansing, Michigan, HamFair canceled Ward Silver, N0AX, to edit QST "Contest Corral" +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>AMATEUR RADIO RESPONDS IN FORCE IN WAKE OF TERRORIST ATTACKS Some already are calling it "Amateur Radio's Finest Hour," as volunteers answer the call to assist in ongoing relief and recovery operations in New York City, Washington, DC, and western Pennsylvania in the wake of terrorist attacks on the US September 11. The need continues for operators to assist over the long haul, however. Current estimates suggest hams may be needed for a month or longer in the New York City area, and for at least the next two weeks in Washington, DC. Along with most other federal agencies, the FCC closed its offices and sent its employees home following the attacks. The FCC issued no emergency declarations nor other special instructions to the Amateur Radio community. The ARRL advised amateurs to stay alert to instructions from local authorities. New York City-Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D, reports that hams have been supporting emergency officials and the American Red Cross relief and recovery effort. Amateurs have been staffing several Red Cross shelters in addition to a staging/National Disaster Medical System center, various Red Cross units, and the Greater New York City American Red Cross Headquarters as well as the New York City Office of Emergency Management. Carrubba says the telephone system in lower Manhattan continues to be problematic because of the high call volume. "American Red Cross communications are overloaded, and traffic from the shelters is coming into the New York City net at a rapid pace," he said. "The Amateur Radio ops are doing a great job under very difficult and strange conditions, but this is what they have trained for; they are getting it done well." Red Cross Communications Officer Jay Ferron, N4GAA, agreed. "The Amateur Radio community has come out very big and very strong," he said, adding that local clubs and repeater groups have volunteered gear, frequencies and operators. New York City District Emergency Coordinator Charles Hargrove, N2NOV, has expressed his appreciation to the amateur community. "Thank you for all the support and well wishes," he said. "This is a difficult time for all of us. We appreciate all the amateurs who have volunteered their time and equipment." Carrubba also cited the ongoing efforts of Guy Richman, KC2AYG, who has been coordinating net controls for the ARES nets, and Manhattan ARRL EC John Kiernan, KE2UN. Carrubba is seeking additional volunteers from the Greater New York City region. He has asked out-of-state volunteers to "stand by until we can provide for your safety and comfort." Volunteers need a VHF (2-meter) or, preferably, a VHF/UHF (2-meter/70-cm) mobile radio, power supply and cables, and mobile/portable mag-mounted gain antenna. Carrubba says hand-helds are not sufficient to deal with the difficult operating conditions. "Operators are still needed," he said, but stressed, "This is a difficult assignment." Amateurs are working two 12-hour shifts per day, 8 AM to 8 PM and 8 PM to 8 AM, "plus or minus three or four hours, mostly plus," Carrubba said. Additional information is available on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org>. At the scene of the Pentagon attack near Washington, DC, Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, reports an "upbeat" crew of about two dozen amateurs is staffing six Amateur Radio stations in the immediate vicinity of the Pentagon. "What shocked me the most was the devastation you can see right there, 100 feet from the building," Gregory said. "The destruction is total." The ARES operation is providing logistical support between the Salvation Army's relief and recovery effort on site and the agency's Arlington headquarters. The Salvation Army has deployed several mobile canteens and a feeding unit to serve military and civilian emergency personnel assigned to the recovery operation. "What we're finding is that communication is very difficult because of the tremendous amount of noise from the construction-type equipment and the generators providing power for the lights and support staff," Gregory said. Because of the noise level, operators are being rotated frequently in and out of the immediate vicinity of the attack. "There's the emotion of it, and there's the tremendous amount of noise, and it's very grating on you because you can hardly hear the radio to communicate," Gregory explained. Gregory described the entire area as "very crowded with people" inside and outside the Pentagon. "People and equipment cleaning up, finding bodies, finding plane parts, firefighters still checking for hot spots, hoses, equipment," he said. "The damage to the building looks worse when you are right next to it than it does on TV." "I found that it took me a few minutes to realize the gravity of what was going on and the importance of what we hams are doing in our own small way to help out," Gregory said. "The devastation of that building is awesome, and it puts things in perspective and it certainly made me proud to be an Amateur Radio operator and serve the people of the United States by offering the support we could." The Pentagon ARES operation continues to seek volunteers. "Because of the immensity of the thing, we're trying to have six amateurs on duty at all times," he said. "We need 20 volunteers every day for at least two weeks." Volunteers should e-mail Tom Gregory, N4NW, at n4nw@arrl.net. Gregory emphasized that Pentagon site security is extremely tight. All ham volunteers must have a photo ID issued by a government entity to the secured area. "The FBI is handling issuance of IDs for access to the secured area and is doing a complete NCIC check before a photo ID is issued," Gregory said. At the so-called "fourth" plane crash site in rural Somerset County western Pennsylvania, Kevin Custer, W3KKC, reports a busy scene as the investigation continues. Custer arranged preliminary repeater communication into and out of the crash site on Tuesday to help the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Pennsylvania State Police, the FBI and other state and federal agencies on the scene. Custer said the investigation could continue for several weeks. "At this time we are preparing for the possibility of family members coming to the crash site--or close by," he said. Montgomery County, Maryland, Deputy RACES Officer John Creel, WB3GXW, observed that while the enormity of the attacks is bound to touch the amateur community directly or indirectly, he has seen nothing but professionalism among the responding operators in his area. Creel advised amateurs to "just be prepared," and he echoed the sentiment of many that the events of September 11 "will be with us for the rest of our lives. More detailed and updated information on Amateur Radio's involvement in the disaster relief and recovery efforts is available on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org>. ==>ARRL PRESIDENT PRAISES AMATEURS' RESPONSE ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, has expressed his deep appreciation to amateurs throughout the world who have sent messages of condolence and support. Haynie also praised the actions of Amateur Radio volunteers. "The shock and horror of yesterday morning's events are still fresh in our minds," Haynie said the day after the September 11 terrorist attacks. "Radio amateurs in New York City and elsewhere around the country are doing everything they can to support the authorities in locating and assisting victims. We know that there are many among us who have been touched personally by these tragedies, but there is comfort in knowing that we are not alone in our grief." "Never have I felt more strongly about what a great privilege it is to be a part of the extraordinary global community of Amateur Radio," Haynie concluded. Messages of support arrived throughout the week at ARRL Headquarters from International Amateur Radio Union member societies and from individual amateurs around the world. Japan Amateur Radio League President Shozo Hara, JA1AN, expressed "great shock and dismay" at the attacks in New York and Washington and offered "heartfelt condolences to the victims and families of the victims" as well as any assistance JARL could offer. Deutscher Amateur-Radio Club Managing Director Bernd Haefner, DB4DL, relayed similar sentiments. "At this horrible time, we all are Americans," he wrote. ARRL Vice President Kay Craigie, WT3P, noted that, on a day when many Americans were rushing home to be with their families, many radio amateurs were assisting in the emergency response. "Compared to the sacrifices by emergency responders in New York City and at the Pentagon, it was a small thing, yet a thing that should not go without notice." ==>AMATEURS AMONG THE MISSING IN WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK At least four Amateur Radio operators are among the many still missing in the aftermath of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. The attack also destroyed the major TV and radio transmitting site atop one of the twin towers. The hams reported missing so far include: * Steven A. "Steve" Jacobson, N2SJ, 53, of New York City, a transmitter engineer for WPIX TV, and an ARRL member. * William V. "Bill" Steckman, WA2ACW, of W Hempstead, New York, a transmitter engineer for WNBC TV. He was well know in the NYC area and ran a number of repeaters from the World Trade Center, most notably the 434 MHz ATV repeater. * Robert D. "Bob" Cirri Sr, KA2OTD, 39, an ARRL member from Nutley, New Jersey and the ARRL District Emergency Coordinator for Hudson County. A Port Authority police officer, Cirri was on the job helping to evacuate workers from the building when it collapsed. * Michael G. Jacobs, AA1GO, 54, an ARRL member from Danbury, Connecticut. Jacobs worked at Fiduciary Trust Company International, which had offices in the World Trade Center. The collapse of the World Trade Center brought down the master TV transmitting antenna that served all but one television station in New York City, as well as several radio stations and amateur repeaters. "The broadcast community is in absolute shock," said Hudson Division Vice Director Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, who works for ABC News. "We all knew transmitter engineers, we all knew people who worked up in those towers near those big television transmitters, and they're gone." Mendelsohn said many viewers in the Greater New York City Area who are not on cable can only see WCBS, channel 2, which maintains its transmitter site on the Empire State Building. WCBS has offered assistance and space to help the other stations get back on the air from its site, he said. "None of the other transmitters exist anymore. They're in the rubble along with the master antenna system, hundreds and hundreds of two-way radio system antennas, and boxes and, of course, untold thousands of people who perished." There was cause for rejoicing in the case of another amateur who worked in the World Trade Center. Rob Nall, WV0S, reports that his friend, Herman Belderok, Jr, KB0EEB, managed to get out of the building just minutes before the structure collapsed. ==>WILDFIRES STRETCH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ARES TEAMS TO THE LIMIT The wildfire rampage in Northern California took a toll on Amateur Radio Emergency Service resources there. Sacramento Valley-North Section Emergency Coordinator Dave Thorne, K6SOJ, says maintaining 24-hour-per-day operations at evacuation centers and at the Red Cross chapter in Chico, plus providing field operators and HQ stations for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection exhausted the pool of trained ARES operators. "As of today, things are beginning to de-escalate, and our ARES members are being released as appropriate," Thorne said September 10. The latest major wildfire erupted September 6 north of Lake Oroville in Butte County. Dubbed the "Poe Fire," it consumed more than 7500 acres, destroyed 27 homes, and prompted the evacuation of more than 400 residences, according to news reports. Emergency Coordinator Steve Kaps, N6NPN, says that the Butte/Glenn County ARES team was activated right away by the county emergency manager to provide emergency and auxiliary communication for the American Red Cross. Kaps said ARES also assisted CDF when its normal communication channel became overloaded. The Sacramento Valley Section mutual aid plan was activated last Friday, September 7, but ARES teams from nearby Shasta County already were involved in their own fire-related activity and unavailable. Thorne says ARES operators from Tehama County and from as far away as Siskiyou County were dispatched, and some remained on duty earlier this week. "These dedicated volunteers are to be commended," he said. "For some it was over a 300 mile round trip, and they pay their own expenses." The Poe Fire was the fifth major wildfire this year to hit the Sacramento Valley-North's eight-county service area. ==>ARISS ANTENNAS MOVE CLOSER TO LAUNCH New Amateur Radio on the International Space Station antennas could be in place by early 2002. In addition, plans now call for splitting the current initial ARISS equipment into separate ham stations aboard the ISS--initially 2 meters in one location and 70 cm in the second. ARISS Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said the new flight antenna systems were shipped earlier this month to Johnson Space Center for a bench review. "We will be having our final safety review with NASA on September 18," he said. He said prototype units already have been tested to see if they withstand the temperature extremes and "thermal shock" of space. Technical testing for SWR and pattern also has been completed. The new antennas--designed to cover HF, VHF, UHF, and the 1.2 and 2.4 GHz bands--are expected to be transported to the ISS in late November aboard the shuttle Endeavour on the STS-108 mission. The new antennas could be installed during a space walk early next year after the Expedition 4 crew is aboard. Bauer said training to install the new antennas is under way. Once the appropriate gear is in place, ARISS operation could extend from HF through 2.4 GHz. The HF antenna is a 2.5-meter long flexible tape. Bauer thinks it will definitely work on 10 meters and speculated that it might work on 15 or 20 too. The new antennas will be arrayed around the perimeter of the ISS Russian Service Module--or Zvezda. Bauer says a 2-meter station will remain in the Russian "Functional Cargo Block"--also called the FGB or Zarya--and will use the existing Russian antennas now used for ARISS. Once the new antennas have been deployed, a second station will be set up in the Service Module. In the short term, that will be a 70-cm station, but in the long term, the Service Module station will support expanded capabilities. The new antenna systems were developed by the US, Italian and Russian ARISS partners. Bauer concedes the hardest part of the process has been getting the new antennas space-ready. "I want to thank all the individuals from around the world who have enabled the ARISS team to get this far," he said. "It has been a challenging effort. Your persistence and can-do spirit enabled the antenna systems to go from just a dream to reality." Visit the ARISS Web site, <http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov>. ==>HURRICANE WATCH NET ACTIVATES FOR ERIN The Hurricane Watch Net and operators at W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center in Miami activated for 11 hours over the September 8-9 weekend to keep an eye on Hurricane Erin. The storm, which had threatened Bermuda, was still a Category 1 hurricane at week's end. The Hurricane Watch Net and W4EHW activated September 9 at 1100 UTC and terminated operations at 2200 UTC after the storm had passed east of Bermuda with no significant impact. W4EHW Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR reports that W4EHW received many live surface reports from Bermuda. W4EHW operated on the Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz as well as on the Bermuda Emergency Net on 14.275 MHz. Ripoll and the Hurricane Watch Net's Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, reported that up to a half dozen Bermuda hams provided storm data, including measured weather surface reports and visual observations of the surf. The storm, with winds at 80 MPH, moved into the Atlantic. By week's end, forecasters were calling for large swells affecting the US East Coast and the Canadian Maritimes. The Hurricane Watch Net <http://www.hwn.org> activates 14.325 MHz whenever a hurricane is within 300 miles of projected landfall or becomes a serious threat to a populated area. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Solar sage Tad Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Average daily sunspot numbers were up more than 86 points this week, and average solar flux rose 39 points. The daily sunspot number peaked on Sunday at 291, the highest value since April 1. Solar flux peaked on Tuesday at 249.7, also the highest since April 1. Solar flux is expected to level off over the next few days, to 235 on Friday, 225 on Saturday and Sunday, and around 215 on Monday. There have been several coronal mass ejections since September 11, but they were not Earth-directed. Geomagnetic conditions have been quiet this week, but on Thursday we experienced a rise in activity. On Friday the predicted planetary A index is 20, and conditions are expected to be unsettled after that. Sunspot numbers for September 6 through 12 were 204, 288, 281, 291, 217, 180 and 228, with a mean of 241.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 222.2, 226.1, 249.5, 236.2, 244.5, 249.7 and 235.1, with a mean of 237.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 6, 7, 7, 5, 9 and 13, with a mean of 7.9. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: YLRL Howdy Days, the QRP Afield event <http://www.qsl.net/wq1rp/qrpa2001.htm>, the AGB NEMIGA Contest, the Air Force Anniversary QSO Party, the ARRL 10 GHz Cumulative Contest, the Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW), the Washington State Salmon Run, and the Tennessee QSO Party are the weekend of September 15-16. JUST AHEAD: The CQ WW RTTY Contest, the Scandinavian Activity Contest (SSB) and the Radio Club Panama XXX Anniversary Contest are the weekend of September 22-23. NOTE: The dates indicated in September QST ("Contest Corral") for the CQ WW RTTY Contest are incorrect. The contest is September 29-30 weekend. See the ARRL Contest Branch page, http://www.arrl.org/contests/ and http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/weeklycont.html for more info. * North American Sprint (SSB) cancelled: The North American Sprint (SSB) sponsored by NCJ and scheduled for September 16, 0000-0400 UTC, has been canceled. "This is being done out of respect to all affected by this week's events and also to eliminate any possibility of interference from the contest with emergency communication that may be going on," said SSB Sprint Manager Jim Stevens, K4MA. * Johnston Island K3J DXpedition on the air: The K3J DXpedition to Johnston Island got on the air September 13 and will remain on the island until September 18. The team had been held up in Hawaii after airline travel was suspended. * Kodiak Star launch delayed as a result of terrorist attacks: The Kodiak Star launch that will carry three Amateur Radio payloads--including the US Naval Academy's PCSat APRS satellite--into space from Kodiak, Alaska, has been delayed due to travel disruptions caused by the recent terrorist attacks. NASA says the launch has been rescheduled for September 20, at 0100 UTC (9 PM Eastern, September 19). The Kodiak Star mission comprises four small satellites that will be launched aboard a Lockheed Martin Athena 1 rocket. The launch will mark the first orbital launch from the new Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska. PCsat is a 1200-baud APRS digipeater to be accessible using H-Ts and mobiles. It will operate on 145.825 MHz. Starshine 3 is a mirror ball with AX.25 9600-baud telemetry on 145.825 MHz, and Sapphire has 1200-baud AX.25 telemetry and a voice replay on 437.1 MHz. * W9GFZ special event postponed: Due to this week's terrorist attacks, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory Amateur Radio Club has postponed the W9GFZ special event operation scheduled for this weekend, September 15-16, from the NRAO in Green Bank, West Virginia. The special event will be reschuled for a later time.--Dave Finley, N1IRZ * It's business as usual for AMSAT-NA Symposium and Annual Meeting: AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, says he and the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors have agreed that the AMSAT-NA Symposium and Annual Meeting in Atlanta the weekend of October 5-7 will proceed on schedule. "At present we do not see any reason why any changes should be made," Haighton said, "and we totally agree with those who believe that 'business should proceed normally as soon as possible, to show that we will not be beaten by a bunch of terrorists'." Haighton said the more who attend in Atlanta, "the bigger and stronger will be that message." Haighton invited AMSAT members and nonmembers to attend. "I look forward to seeing a record crowd!" More information and a registration form is available on the AMSAT-NA Web site, <http://www.amsat.org>. * 2001 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference to proceed on schedule: The 20th ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference will be held as scheduled September 21-23 in Cincinnati. The annual gathering provides an international forum for radio amateurs involved in digital communication, networking, and related technologies to meet, publish their work, and present new ideas and techniques for discussion. Sessions at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels will be offered in selected areas of digital communication. Tony Curtis, K3RXK, will be the banquet speaker Saturday evening. Full DCC information, a registration form, and hotel information may be obtained by contacting Tucson Amateur Packet Radio, 972-671-TAPR (8277); fax 972-671-8716; e-mail: tapr@tapr.org; http://www.tapr.org. * DXCC Annual List deadline modified: Effective immediately, all applications for DXCC credit that are postmarked by September 30 will be eligible for inclusion in the DXCC Annual List that will appear in the 2001 DXCC Yearbook. It's not necessary that applications actually be received at ARRL Headquarters in Newington by that date. All submittals must show clear evidence of a postmark or posting date. This change should alleviate most problems arising from recently reported mail delays. Applications will be listed on the ARRL Web site DXCC page <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/appstatus.html> as they are received. * Former HQ staff member recovering from surgery: Former ARRL Headquarters staff member Bob White, W1CW, is recovering from heart surgery at a Tampa, Florida, hospital. An ARRL Life Member, White, 81, worked at Headquarters for 25 years, primarily managing the DXCC program. He's also a CQ DX Hall of Fame member. His wife Ellen, W1YL, and their son Jim, K4OJ--also former HQ staffers--have expressed their thanks for the outpouring of e-mail and get well wishes. thank everyone for the outpouring of e-mail and get-well wishes. "My father is pleased by the number of e-mails he has received from hams around the world," said Jim White. "This has been very helpful to him." He said his father remains in good spirits. His prognosis is for several weeks' post-operative recovery at the hospital before being allowed to return home. E-messages can be sent to his home care of Ellen White, w1yl@tampabay.rr.com. * Hiram Percy Maxim Award presented at Missouri convention: At the recent Missouri State Convention, ARRL Midwest Division Director Wade Walstrom, W0EJ, presented 2000 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award winner Thaddeus W. Huff, KC0AQG, with a plaque and a check for $1000. Huff, 19, lives in Clarence, Missouri, and attends Moberly Area Community College, where he majors in criminal justice. Huff is active in community development and has spearheaded several programs to benefit his community, including an exhibit at the Clarence Community Resources Exposition to demonstrate Amateur Radio and emergency communications. A member of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, he has organized severe weather spotting courses for Macon and Shelby counties. The Hiram Percy Maxim Award goes each year to a radio amateur under the age of 21 whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur Radio activities. The award was established in 1936, and formal nominations come from section managers. * Wisconsin PRB-1 drive appears to be overcoming sponsor's resignation: Wisconsin's PRB-1 bill, Assembly Bill 368, appears to be retaining its momentum despite the recent resignation of the measure's Assembly sponsor, Rep Joan Wade of Montello. Wade, who resigned August 31, had introduced AB-368 earlier this year. The bill now will be in the hands of Rep Luther Olsen of Berlin. AB-368 was voted out of committee this week on a 5-1 vote; a vote by the Assembly could happen when the legislature reconvenes in October. A public hearing on the bill was held in May by the Committee on Urban and Local Affairs. The bill's Senate sponsor will be Sen Fred Risser. If AB-368 gets to the Senate, it will be referred to a committee, and another public hearing will be held. Information on how to contact Wisconsin lawmakers is available via the Badger State Smoke Signals Web site, <http://www.bsss.org.>.--Badger State Smoke Signals * Lansing, Michigan, HamFair canceled: The 31st annual HamFair <http://www.qsl.net/lcdra/hamfair.org.html> in Lansing, Michigan, scheduled for October 14, has been cancelled. The event, sponsored by the Central Michigan Amateur Radio Club and Lansing Civil Defense Repeater Association, was called off because of lagging ticket sales and vendor booth reservations. For more information, contact J. Ervin Bates, W8ERV, w8erv@arrl.net; 517-202-6229. * Ward Silver, N0AX, to edit QST "Contest Corral": Ward Silver, N0AX, will take over the reins of the QST "Contest Corral" department from George Fremin, K5TR. The change is effective with the November 2001 issue of QST. Licensed since 1972, Silver--who's 46--is a Life Member of ARRL and the Western Washington DX Club. A resident of Vashon Island near Seattle in Puget Sound, Silver is married and the father of twin boys, KD7DQO and KD7FYX. "My favorite contests are CW Sweepstakes, CW Sprint, and CQ WW CW--you might detect a slight inclination towards CW on my part," he says. He's especially interested in QRP (low-power) operating but also likes participating in multiop groups, such as W7RM and K3LR. Members may contact Ward Silver, N0AX, via e-mail, n0ax@arrl.org. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; http://www.arrl.org. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest to active amateurs. 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